Hayes Long MansionBuilt in 1840, the historic Hayes Long Mansion fronts State Highway 71 as it leads north from Greenwood, Florida.

ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Historic Sites of Greenwood, Florida

ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Historic Sites of Greenwood, Florida

Great Oaks in Greenwood, FloridaThe beautiful old Bryan home, long known as "Great Oaks," was built in 1860 and is one of the many antebellum structures to be found in Greenwood.

The Erwin House from the AirBuilt in the 1830s, the Irwin House in Greenwood is one of the oldest standing homes in the Florida Panhandle.

Erwin House in GreenwoodThe historic 1830s home is rich in Florida history and legend.

Greenwood Baptist ChurchA Confederate flag marks the grave of one of the many veterans buried around the historic church.

Greenwood, Florida - Historic Sites & Points of Interest

Antebellum History in Florida

Generally thought to have been founded as a community in around 1824, although the area had been settled even earlier, the charming community of Greenwood is one of the most historic and picturesque in Florida.

Settlers from Georgia and the Carolinas, many of them quite prosperous, had begun carving farms and plantations from the wilderness almost as soon as Florida was ceded from Spain to the United States. The rich redlands surrounding the site where Greenwood would grow were ideal for growing cotton and the lowlands of the nearby Chipola River produced strong yields of sugar cane. As these farms became more established and prosperous, it was logical that a town or village be established to provide support and entertainment for the planters.

The site selected was the intersection of two important early roads, really little more than wagon trails in those days. One of these led from Neal's Landing on the Chattahoochee River (near the point where Florida, Alabama and Georgia intersect) to the now vanished town of Webbville near the modern city of Cottondale. The other led from a landing lower down the Chattahoochee west to the Chipola River and on to Campbellton.

Although it was not immediately incorporated, Greenwood quickly grew to become a prosperous antebellum village. The town boasted Union Academy, one of the first schools in Florida, as well as businesses, medical and legal offices, stores and the "town houses" of many of the area's most successful plantation owners.

The prosperity of the plantations, of course, was built largely through the labors of scores of slaves who worked the fields and carried out other tasks necessary to keep the farms operating and successful.

In 1853, Greenwood attracted national attention when an enslaved man attacked and injured a plantation owner named Dr. Franklin Hart and then committed suicide by throwing himself down a well instead of accepting a whipping as punishment. The incident was seized on by abolitionist editors in the north and was widely publicized as evidence of the cruelty of slavery.

Greenwood was never attacked during the Civil War, but many of its men and boys marched off to fight. The town provided a regular military company to the Confederate army, as well as a mounted militia unit known as the Greenwood Club Cavalry. Filled primarily by students from Union Academy, the latter unit fought at the Battle of Marianna in 1864 under the leadership of Caption (and teacher) Henry J. Robinson.

Greenwood today is a picturesque and charming community with an outstanding collection of preserved historic structures. Among the best known are the following:

Great Oaks, a Greek Revival mansion built in 1860 by the Bryan family, has been restored and may be viewed from State Highway 71 South. A historical marker stands beneath the magnificent oaks that frame the home. (Private)

Hayes Long Mansion, which can be viewed from State Highway 71 North, is a stunning antebellum structure that was built in ca. 1840. A historical marker details the rich history of the home. (Private)

Erwin House, facing Fort Road near its intersection with State Highway 71, is the oldest standing home in the region and was build in the 1830s. A historical marker on Fort Road provides an outline of its history. (Private)

Pender Store, facing Highway 71 around the corner from the Irwin House, was built in the years after the Civil War and is one of the oldest operating stores in Florida. (Open)

Also of interest are the historic Baptist and Methodist cemeteries and numerous other historic homes that dot the landscape of the city. A self-guided tour is available from the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce on U.S. 90 in Marianna (open weekdays). Also nearby is the quaint community of Two Egg.